SAVE IMSU FROM IMPENDING DOOM, GROUP URGES OKOROCHA

An appeal has gone to Governor Rochas Okorocha to take immediate and decisive steps to avert a looming travesty of justice in the selection of a new Vice Chancellor for the state-owned Imo State University. The appeal made by a group known as “Concerned Citizens of Imo State/Alumni of Imo State University”, noted that plans are underway to hoist an unpopular and unqualified candidate as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the University.

The group, made up of notable indigenes of Imo State and distinguished alumni of the University, accused some IMSU Governing Council officials of plans to circumvent the rules guiding the selection process for appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor. It referred in particular to the attempt to tinker with the age limit of candidates applying for the position of Vice Chancellor in favour of the present Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Mrs.) Adaobi Obasi who is not qualified by virtue of her over age status.

The group further alleged that despite being over 65 years of age as stipulated by the IMSU Governing Council advert for the position of Vice Chancellor in keeping with the National Universities Commission (NUC) rule, the IMSU Governing Council has compromised the process by refusing to disqualify Professor Obasi on grounds of age.

It disclosed that its intervention in the matter is based on the need to uphold equity and fairness in the selection process and to avert possible legal action. It observed that quantum of petitions, legal pre-action notice, as well as petitions to the National Universities Commission (NUC) challenging the circumvention of the screening and selection processes are in the offing and only the prompt intervention of Okorocha will save the precarious situation.

The group while commending the free education programme of Owelle Rochas Okorocha led Rescue Mission government and the stability it had brought to education in the state stated that the progress so far recorded by the government should not be derailed by power-hungry individuals out to feather their own nest at the detriment of the state.

The group also commended Okorocha’s ingenuity in the prompt payment of salary of teachers at all levels in the state. They noted that the free education programme introduced and sustained by Okorocha has invariably brought sanity and stability in the State education system.

Okorocha’s ability to initiate and execute massive infrastructural projects in the state was also commended. The group noted in particular the construction of state of the art school buildings, hospitals, markets, roads among other face-lifting infrastructural facilities. “We are of sincere opinion that given the numerous developmental strides achieved by the Rescue Mission Government, we do not want a situation where activities of some self-serving individuals at the Imo State University could smear and taint the hard won developmental image of the government”, the group surmised.